Moray Way Day 2 - Dava to Roseisle 26 May 2014.

Moray Way, Dava to Roseisle - Day 2
Distance 40.2km Climb 215m
Monday 26 May 2014

The weather had changed and it was a lot better today, cold but dry. Each morning we would hear oyster catchers flying around the Grantown-on-Spey Caravan Park. It would start with one flying around, then two all the way up to at least five. There were always deer in the next field just passing through, it must have been a regular route for them. So after a quick breakfast Susan took us back to Dava the place we finished on Day 1. After a few photos we set off again.

The Way turns a little off the disused railway line, this was around the Old Dava Station which is now a private property and The Way moves around away from the line a little.

The Way moves through a small wood and it is not long before we were back walking in open countryside back on the disused railway. The sound of oyster catchers calling was all around us. It had been a little cold when we started but we soon warmed up.

It was along here we disturbed a number of geese who flew round and round the area. We reached the Half Way Hut and had a short stop.  In the hut there is notices of interest and details of what the railway line would have looked like. It shows that from Half Way Hut there is a massive drop in height down to Forres.

Moving along I followed some geese just walking off the track, with some young just walking along. They were not bothered by my presence.

As we approached Bogeney (ruin) there was a little sign showing information on the area. Bogeney had been a farm where the last owner Mrs MacDonald used to order supplies from Forres or Granton and the train driver would blow his whistle and Mrs MacDonald would send her collie dog to collect the supplies from the line.

The next point of interest was the Divie Viaduct, where we stopped for a short rest. You could see from the different height of the walls at each end of the viaduct how much the railway line had dropped as it moved north to Forres.

We passed through Dunphail. As we moved along an open stretch of countryside we caught our first glimpse of the sea, far to the north.  There were still a number of miles to go before we actually reached the coast, but we could see it.

After passing Clashdhu and crossing Scurrypool Bridge we had another short stop at Squirrelneuk Bridge.

The Way continues north east before turning westward to Radford Bridge, which was a crossroads of footpaths. It was around here we saw the first people since leaving the camp site.

On the edge of Forres we came across our first whiskey distillery, the Dallas Dhu, the sign showed this has been opened and closed a number of times over the years due to demand and necessity, it is currently closed as a distillery but is open as a museum under the care of Historic Scotland.  This area of Scotland is world famous for its whiskey.  This was also the start or end of the railway and from here we moved off the railway line into Forres.

In Forres we met up with Susan, who had had a look round the town and had found a few likely places to stop and have a bite to eat. We stopped in a little cafe on the main road.  This part of the Moray Way, The Dava Way was very well measured and we could judge our distance and timed it almost to the minute how long it would take us to reach places. I supposed it was easy to record the exact distance on the Dava Way being an old railway line which would have been measured exact. On the next part our time and distance calculation would not be so easy.

After our lunch we set off again. The Way took us through the town and we passed Sueno's Stone. A massive carved stone in a glass case, preserving the stone against the elements. There are many carvings on the stone but to be honest I could not make many of them out, I could see the Celtic Cross though.

The Way took us across a footbridge over the busy A96. Our route took us up towards Kinloss, as we walked by the road Susan passed us in the car. Suddenly it started to rain.

It was a very strong rainfall and came across in waves, the rain stopped almost as suddenly as it started and cleared. We continued on the road north, passing to the west of Kinloss.

We could see across Findhorn Bay as we passed a set of bird/plane hides.

We passed the last RAF Nimrod that has been named The Duke of Edinburgh.

A few miles north and we reached Findhorn, this was where we met up with Susan again. We walked around the coast and stopped off at a little pub for a coffee.

After our break we set off again. We were now on The Moray Coastal Trail, the second walk that was part of The Moray Way. It was turning cold although bright as we walked across the sands.

We came across some old coastal defences.

We then twisted and turned over the sand dunes, away from the coast.

To the northern edge of RAF Kinloss, the path took us back to a track on the coast.  The distances on the map were no longer as accurate as they had previously been.  Our timings were out, yet we were walking the same but not meeting the time appreciation. I should add the map was not an OS Map but a printed picture drawing of the route.

We were now walking by the coast on one side with a forest on the other. You could see that this was a popular place on warm sunny days, as there were signs of beach parties and barbecues.  The path then turns into the forest.

The path twisted and turned through the forest, heading eastwards.  Again distances shown on the map did not relate to the distance on the ground we were walking.

Eventually we met up with Susan who had parked up at a car park shown on the map as Roseisle.

On our journey back to the Grantown-on-Spey Caravan Park we stopped at Forres for our evening meal. Susan had spotted an Indian Restaurant on her way through. It had been a good day.

We had covered approx. 40.2km with 215m climb started at 08.30 finished 19.45

More to follow


Boz North
Details correct at time of walking.

If you have enjoyed reading my walk or found it useful you may also like to read other walks I have done on The Moray Way or other areas. Please check out the links on the right hand side.

Follow link to previous day, Day 1 Grantown-on-Spey to Dava
Follow link to next day, Day 3 Roseisle to Garmouth

Moray Way Day 1 - Grantown-on-Spey to Dava 25 May 2014.

Moray Way, Grantown-on-Spey to Dava - Day 1
Distance 14.5km Climb 125m
Sunday 25th May 2014

Following our Hadrian Wall Path walk last year, I had looked at what walk would we do this year. Everyone was keen to do the Great Glen Way, then my friend Ron suggested the Moray Way as an alternative, possibly a more interesting walk to do. My daughter ordered the Walkers (Shortbread) map and gave it to me for Fathers Day. The Moray Way is three walks joined together to make one large circular walk, which would be ideal as we could stay in one camp site and not waste time packing and moving on. I researched the route of the walk, looking at places we could stop for something to eat. I also checked out our route to Grantown-on-Spey, which would be the start of our walk. As always the walk would depend on Susan, as Susan was doing the picking up and dropping off and this would be crucial to the success of the walk.

To rush ahead with the story The Moray Way was agreed and I found the Grantown-on-Spey Caravan Park would be potentially a good place to use as our camp site base.  I drove up and we booked a site for a couple of nights, pitching the tent and as it was still light we decided to get a few miles in and made a start on The Moray Way.

The start was a little down the road from the campsite so it was a great place to camp.  We walked under the old railway bridge and saw a sign that took us through a gate to the right.  This was where we went wrong a little. Through the gate there were three paths, I choice the middle path that took us up hill, in reflection we should have just took the path up onto the old railway line.  After all we were at the start of the Dava Way, which follows the railway line!  In our excitement we just raced off, the path we had taken, took us up the side of the hill and too far to the west.  Even so the views were stunning.

Which way? are we lost?

It took us a little time wandering around before we dropped back down to the disused railway line.  Never mind I was enjoying it.

We rejoined the route just before Lady Catherine's Lodge, and continued north.  There were lots of interesting signs on the Dava Way.  The sign at Lady Catherine's Lodge shows apparently they had a little trouble getting her coffin into the lodge, after she had died.

We continued on The Way and passed this horse with a zebra cover, I could not resist taking its photo.

For part of The Way although along the old railway line it runs very close to the road. One of the features here was a place called Huntly's Cave, David and I went to have a look down a steep drop, Anne continued on The Way.  If we had time it would have been good to go and have a look but David and Anne wanted to get on.

Although the weather was good when we started,  it soon changed and it was soon raining, quite heavy. We passed this heavily armed unhappy looking gentleman.  It is all part of the history of the area.

We then passed the Dava Summit 320m.  This was not really a climb as such as the line was just a steady rise that you did not notice.

We continued north, and it was along here we scared a couple of young deer who had been sheltering next to the fence.  We also saw a batch of young grouse running scared on the track.

This part of The Moray Way, is also known as The Dava Way, was well measured, as you would expect from a railway line.  The distances were exact and we could measure our timing to the stops almost to the minute.  This would change as we moved along The Way.

We arrived at Dava, where we had arranged to meet up with Susan. From the sign we turned left and took the track down hill to the main road.  It only took a few minutes to return to the Grantown-on-Spey Caravan Park.  What a brilliant place, it was a perfect locality, we had tea at the local bar where they allowed us to take in our chips.  Mmum mmum.

We had walked for approx. 3.5 hrs and covered approx. 14.5km with 125m climb.

More to follow


Boz North
Details correct at time of walking.

If you have enjoyed reading my walk or found it useful you may also like to read other walks I have done on The Moray Way or other areas. Please check out the links on the right hand side.

Follow link to next day, Day 2 Moray Way Dava to Roseisle

Scottish 2 Day Marches Day 2 - Garelochhead 4 May 2014.

Scottish Garelochhead 2 Day Marches - Day 2
Distance 33.5km Climb 542m
Sunday 4th May 2014

Just like the day before we all lined up, for day 2 of the Scottish Garelochhead 2 Day march.  At the signal we marched out the camp gates again to a salute.  It was the same route as last year on the second day.  Out of the camp gates, cross over on to the main road, turn left and head up the hill, the police motor cyclists were there as they were the day before.  We marched up the hill passed the roundabout and down the bank to the next roundabout.  The route continued straight over the roundabout and headed West, which soon turned South.  Again the route was a little up and down before starting to go up properly.

Unlike last year, when it was a bright and clear, with good visibility, well for most of the day.  Today there was a lazy mist that just hung around nearly all day, which reduced visibility making the view poor, so I did not take many photos.

We kept a steady pace going so it did not take us long to get to the first rest stop.  The stop area was up a narrow side road, just right off the main road.  Again we took advantage of the stop to do some admin before we formed up and marched off.

Marching straight across the junction we had a small climb before we followed the route markers that took us right.  Then very soon the road started to drop down hill very quickly, this was what was called bastard hill.  Near the bottom of the hill we turned left and walked along the top track towards Cove.

Approx 4km later and we arrived at Cove for lunch.  Lunch was in a large hall, very civilised sitting on a proper chair and eating at a table.

When we left Cove we marched in a Northerly direction by the loch side, occasionally there were little glimpses of the far side of the loch as the mist lifted slightly, but not for long.

Another 4km North then we turned right and started up the Bastard Hill, up, up and up up again we marched.  2km later we were still climbing up the Bastard Hill but very close to the third rest stop, which was the same as the first due to the route.

Everyone we saw at the rest stop was in high spirits the Bastard Hill had been conquered, next stop the finish.

When we set off again we took a steady pace on the up and mostly down, it did not take us long to reach the roundabout at the bottom of the hill.

Just a short climb and we were less than a km from camp, down hill, then right turn and a short rise up to the camp gates. Where we were met by cheering and clapping from other groups who were still near the entrance.  On day 2 we had covered 22 miles, 33.5km, another good day walking.

More to follow

Boz North
Details correct at time of walking.

If you have enjoyed reading my walk or found it useful you may also like to read other walks I have done on The Garelochhead Scottish 2 Days Marches or other areas. Please check out the links on the right hand side.

Follow link to previous Day 1 Scottish Garellochhead March
Follow link to Day 2 2013

Scottish 2 Day Marches Day 1 - Garelochhead 3 May 2014.

Scottish Garelochhead 2 Day Marches - Day 1
Distance 46.4km Climb 811m
Saturday 3rd May 2014

After last years Nijmegen March at the earliest opportunity my name was down for this years Nijmegen March.  As always part of the march is that you need to pass a qualifying march, as last year we were at Garelochhead to join in the Scottish Garelochhead 2 Day Marches.

The weather was nice and clear when we started.  There was no band to play us out this year which was a little disappointing.  As last years some groups were singing and some had there own flutes and drums all marching along happily enjoying the time.

The route was the same as last year.  From the camp gates we crossed onto the main road and turned left and marched up the hill, travelling in a North/North Westerly direction.  Just under a km from the start the route took us past a roundabout and we started down hill slightly.  Police on motorbikes kept the roads clear and directed traffic around the groups.

A further 2km on we arrived at another roundabout and took the right turn.  Walking in a more Northerly direction.

The route now still heading North took us down hill towards Loch Long.

We followed along the edge of Loch Long for approx. the next 5.5km, before the route turned right and we started walking up hill.  A very steep hill.

At the top we reached the first rest stop, after a short rest to rub feet and take on water we formed up and marching off to the sound of a few cheers and hand clapping.  We were now heading in an Easterly direction along Glen Douglas.  The route was fairly flat with a little bit of up and down.

Approx. 7km from the rest stop we started walking down hill and caught our first glimpses of Loch Lomond.  There was still snow on Ben Lomond and you could see it below the cloud.

The route then took us down a fairly steep bank and we passed through what appeared to be a garden before we crossed to a path that ran next to Loch Lomond.

We headed South beside the Loch towards Luss which was approx. a further 5km down the loch side. At Luss we were greeted with a few cheers and stopped for lunch, our second rest stop.

Once we had fed and completed our admin we formed up and marched off, we were still heading South, still next to the loch. We followed the loch for approx a further 5km and passed the Loch Lomond golf course.

The route then returned to the main road.  After a short while we came across the police escort again who were stopping the traffic to allow the groups to cross the road onto the Glen Fruin Haul Road, East.

As soon as you start on the Glen Fruin Haul Road the route is up, up and then up again.  We passed another couple of groups and settled into a nice steady pace and soon reached the last rest stop of the day.

After a quick stop we formed up and marched off again.  The route was mainly level now with a few parts that were up and down.

The route dropped down back to the roundabout we had passed earlier in the day.  There was just less than a km to go.  It was down hill now then a right turn for a small climb up to the camp gates, where we were greeted with cheers and hand clapping.

This was the end of day 1, we had had been told the distance was nearly 29 miles, 46.4km. Time for dinner and prepare for the next day.

More to follow


Boz North
Details correct at time of walking.

If you have enjoyed reading my walk or found it useful you may also like to read other walks I have done on The Garelochhead Scottish 2 Days Marches or other areas. Please check out the links on the right hand side.

Follow link to Day 2 of Scottish Garelochhead March 2014
Follow link to Day 1 2013